Device for circulating steam, &amp;c.



PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

P. O. GOFF. DEVICE FOR GIRGULATING STEAM, 6w

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 5. 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wimeooo i% a N0. 809,253. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. F. G. GOFF. DEVICE FORCIRGULATING STEAM, 8m.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 B PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

F. C. GOPF. DEVICE FOR GIRGULATING STEAM, &0.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1902.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

? avwemto'c attowmg No. 809,253. PATENTBD JAN. 2, 1906. F. G. GOFP.

DEVICE FOR CIRCULATING STEAM, &0= APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 5, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed November 5, 1902. Serial No- 130,203.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK O. GoFF, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Circulating Steam or other Vapor or Heating Agent; and I do declarethe'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for circulating steam orother vapor or heating agent through any desired arrangement or systemof piping, heaters, and radiators, with their various branches andconnections used for heating, ventilating, drying, evaporating, andother similar purposes.

My object is to create, maintain, and control a free and perfectcirculation of steam or other heating agent in heating or other systems,all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates my invention, partly in section,in connection with an engine and boiler arranged to utilize both liveand exhaust steam. Fig. 2 shows the same in elevation and on a smallerscale, the boiler being omitted and radiators shown in connection withthe system of piping. Fig. 3 shows a modified form of construction inwhich a water-motor is employed for operating a blower through which thesteam passes to the system. Provision is also made in this View forsuperheating or increasing the temperature of the steam, whereby it willstand a gerater degree of pressure without condensation. Fig. 4 showsstill another form of construction in which the front draft andsmokeflue air-check of a furnace are controlled by means of myimprovements. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, in detail and on a largerscale, of certain valves employed in connection with the apparatus.

The same reference characters indicate'the same parts in all the views.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, letthe numeral 5 des ignate a boiler, 6 an engine, and 9 the mainsteam-pipe from which the radiators 8 receive their supply of steam,which 'may be live steam from the boiler, exhaust-steam from the engine,or both live and exhaust steam, as may be desired. A pipe 15 leads fromthe boiler to the. engine for supplying steam to the latter and isprovided with a controlling-valve 10. A branch exhaustpipe 12 leads fromthe engine to a steam-pipe 13, from which leads a branch pipe 14 to themain steam-supply pipe 9. a check-valve 16, which allows steam to passfrom the pipe 13 to the pipe 9, but prevents its return. Above itsconnection with the branch pipe 14 the pipe 13 is provided with aweighted valve 17, adapted to open under certain conditions and allowthe exhauststeam to pass to the atmosphere when it is not desired toutilize it for heating purposes. This valve may be set to open at anydesired pressure. The lower extremity of the pi e 13 is connected with apipe 18, leading to t 1e pipe 9. This 'pe 18 is provided with anenargement or c amber 19, entered by an upwardly-turned nozzle 20,communicating with a branch pipe 21 leading from the steam-pipe 15 andconnected therewith between the dome of the boiler and the valve 10. Thenozzle 20 when utilized delivers an upwardly-directed steam-jet andproduces a partial vacuum in the chamber 19 and the pipe 18 below saidchamber, whereby the exaust-steam from the pipe 1 3 maybe delivered tothe pipe 9 by way of the pipe 18. An airconduit 21 is connected with abranch conduit 22, leading from air-valves 23 of all the radiators 8.This conduit 21 leads to one end of a cylinder 24, provided with apiston 25, whose stem 26 passes through a stuflingbox 27 and isconnected outside of the cylinder with a weighted lever 28, fulcrumed at29 on an arm 30, mounted on the cylinder. Beyond its connection with.the lever 28, as shown at 31, the piston-stem 26 is connected with alever-arm 32, as shown at 33. This lever-arm 32 is connected with avalve 34, located in the pipe 21 for controlling the passage of steamfrom the boiler to the steamjet nozzle 20. A branch pipe 35, connectedat one extremity with the pipe 21 between the valve 34 and the boiler,is connected at its opposite extremity with the chamber 19. This pipe 35may be utilized to deliver steam to the nozzle 20 when the valve 34 isclosed. Thepipe 35 contains a valve 36, which may be closed when thesteam is passing to the nozzle 20 through the valve 34.

The pipe 14 has Assuming now that it is desired to utilize theexhaust-steam from the engine for heating purposes and the radiators ofthe system are devoid of steam, and therefore filled with air, thisexhaust-steam may pass directly to the pipe 9 by way of the branch pipe14 and through the check-valve 16 when the force of the exhaust issuflicient for the purpose. When, however, it is desired to increase theforce of the exhaust and drive it into the system under pressure and atthe same time relieve the engine of the pressure incident to the passageof the exhaust-steam unaided into the heating system, the valve 36 isopened, allowing the live steam from the boiler to pass to thejet-nozzle 20. This steam-jet'is directed upwardly into the pipe 18above the chamber 19, whereby a partial vacuum is produced in thechamber 19 and the pipe 18 below said chamber. The exhaust-steam inresponse to the suction passes downwardly in the pipe 13 from the pipe12 and thence upwardly by way of the pipe 18 into the chamber 19, whenceit passes to the pipe 9 and thence to the radiators 8 under the requiredpressure.

It is assumed that the valve 34 is closed when the operation begins. Inthis case the steam entering the radiators or heating apparatus of thesystem drives out the air through the valves 23 into the pipes 22 andthence into the pipe 21, whence it is delivered to the cylinder 24.Connected with this cylinder is an outlet-pipe 37, which leads to adischarge or waste pipe 38. This waste-pipe is connected with theexhaust-pipe 13 but a valve 39, located in the pipe 38, is closed whenthe exhaust-steam is utilized for heating purposes. When the valve 34 isclosed, the piston 25 is located between the air-inlet end 24 and theair-outlet 24. When the piston is in this position, the valve may beopened by the movement of the piston in either direction in thecylinder. Hence the air which enters the cylinder through the pipe 21acts on the piston 25 and drives the latter forwardly or in thedirection of the arrow (see Fig. 1) until the stem 26 is actuatedsufficiently to open the valve 34 and the piston has moved to a positionforward of the outlet 24, after which the air passes through the pipe 37to the waste-pipe 38. As soon as the valve 34 is opened the valve 36 maybe closed, and subsequently the operation of the system is automatic.After the air has been forced out of the radiators by the entrance ofthe steam the air-valves (which it is assumed are of any suitable orordinary automatic type) are of course closed. As soon as this occursthe weight 28' of the lever 28 will act to return the lever to itsnormal or vertical position, and this action will close the valve 34 andreturn the piston 25 to its normal position between the cylinderoutlet24 and the inlet end 24. As soon as the radiators begin to cool andcondensation takes place therein the resulting partial vacuum produces asuction or pull in the air-pipe 21 toward the radiators. This suction orpull extends to the cylinder 24 in the rear of the piston and acts onthe latter to move it rearwardly sufficiently to again open the valve34. In this case the arm 32 is moved to the right of its verticalposition and steam is again driven into the radiators in the same manneras before. The air which has entered the radiators (the air-valves ortheir equivalent being of that type which allows air to enter theradiators on a sufficient reduction of pressure therein) to fill thevacuum produced by the condensation is again driven out into the pipe 21and thence into the cylinder 24 in the rear of the piston, which isagain driven forward to the normal position and the valve closed. If atthis time the airvalves are still open and air continues to pass intothe cylinder, the piston will be again driven forward from its normalposition and the valve 34 again opened in the manner heretoforedescribed. It will thus be seen that the supply of steam to the systemis automatically controlled under the circumstances.

Live steam from the boiler may be delivered to the pipe 9 by a pipe 39,connected with the pipe 21 and provided with a valve 40. When this valveis opened, the live steam may pass toward the pipe 9. Between the valve40 and the pipe 9 is a valve 41, which is normally open. This valve,however, is connected with a stem 42, attached to a diaphragm 43. Alever 44, ful crumed at and connected with the stem 42 at 46, isprovided with a weight 47, which is set by the arrangement of the weightto hold the valve 41 normally open. Connected with the diaphragm frombelow is a pipe 48, which leads to the steam-pipe 9. If the pressure inthe pipe 9 becomes too great or greater than is necessary, as determinedby the weighted lever 44, the diaphragm 43 will be raised by the actionof the steam-pressure and actuate the stem 42 sufficiently to close thevalve 41 and shut off the live steam from passing to the pipe 9. If itis not de sired to utilize exhaust-steam and the live steam is from ahigh-pressure boiler, the jet nozzle 20 and its cooperating features maybe entirely eliminated, in which event the live steam in its passage tothe system will be automatically controlled by the operation of thevalve 34 through the instrumentality of the piston 25 in precisely themanner just described.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 a water-motor 49 is employed tooperate a blower 49, connected with the steam-pipe 9. As shown in thedrawings, a belt 50 connects the motor with the blower. The latter isemployed to produce the pressure necessary to drive the steam throughthe heating system. A water-supply pipe 51 and a discharge or exhaustpipe 52 are connected the motor. This pipe 54 is provided with a valve55, which may be opened by hand to start the motor. The pipe 9 isconnected with any suitable source of steam-supply. In the pipe 51 arelocated two valves 56 and 57 The valve 57 is provided with an arm 58,which is connected by a link 59 with a lever 60, fulcrumed at 61,provided with a weight 62 and connected with a diaphragmmotor 63 by astem 64. The pressure-pipe 48 is connected with the diaphragm-chamber ofmotor 63 from below. The valve 57 is held normally open by the weight62, which is constructed and arranged to resist a certain number ofpounds pressure in the pipe 48 before the lever 60 will be actuatedsufficiently to close the valve. The valve 56 is provided with an arm65, which is connected witha lever 66 by a link 67. The lever 66 isfulcrumed at 68 and connected at 69 with a stem 70 of a diaphragm-motor71, whose diaphragm-chamber is connected from below with a pipe 72,leading from the steam-pipe in the rear of the blower. The pipe 9 issurrounded in the rear of the blower with a jacket 73, connected with apipe 74 for supplying superheated steam to the jacket for the purpose ofraising the temperature of the.

steam in the pipe 9, whereby its capacity to undergo pressure from theblower without condensation is increased. The water of condensationescapes from the jacket 73 by way of a pipe 75. In describing theoperation of this form of device it must be assumed that the valves 56and 57 are open and the valve 52 closed. The apparatus is started byopening the valve 55, whereby the water from the pipe 51 is allowed topass to the motor 49, which being started operates the blower 49 andforces the steam through the system. The steam drives the air out of theradiators or other devices of the system, and this air passes throughthe pipe 21, which is connected with the air-valves, as aforesaid,

enters the cylinder 24, and acts on the pis-' ton 25, which is therebyactuated sufiiciently to open the valve 52 for the passage of water tothe motor. The valve 55 may then be closed, and subsequently theoperation of the system will be automatic. After the radiators arefilled with steam and the air all driven out of the system the weightedlever 28 will return to its normal position, closing I the valve 52,whereby the water-supply is cut off and the motor stopped. It must beunderstood that the valve 52 is controlled by the escape of air from thesystem. The water will be partly or completely out off, as circumstancesmay require. The valve 52 will be automatically actuated by the piston25 and its connections in precisely the same manner as the valve 34, asheretofore explained in detail. If the steam-pressure in the pipe 9becomes greater than is necessary, this pressure acting on the diaphragm63 will actuate the lever 60 and close or partly close the valve 57,thus automatically regulating the motor. If the steam-supply connectedwith the pipe 9 fails for any reason, the suction produced by the blowerin the pipe 9 in the rear of the blower will act on the diaphragm 71 toclose the valve 56 and stop the motor by cutting off the water-supply.It is evident that this feature may also be employed in connection withthe system shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

My improved means for automatically controlling the steam-supply to aheating system by the action of the air forced out of the system by thesteam will now be described in connection with the apparatus forregulating the draft of the furnace employed in generating steam for thesystem. In Fig. 4 a system suitable for an ordinary dwellinghouse isillustrated. Referring to this figure, let the numeral 7 6 designate thefront damper of the steam-generating furnace 77, and 78 the air-check ordamper in the rear connected with the smoke flue or stack 79. The pipe 9for supplying steam to the system is'suitably connected with this plant.To the outer extremity of the piston-stem 26 is connected a flexibledevice 80, as a chain, which passes between two guide-pulleys 81 and isconnected at its upper extremity with a lever 82, fulcrumed at 83 on ahanger 84. To the lever 82 remote from this connection with the chain isattached a weight 85. To the extremity of this lever, near the chain 80,is attached a chain 86, which passes over guidepulleys 87 and 88 andextends thence downwardly to the damper 76. The chain 86 is providedwith a compensating spring 89. To the extremity of the lever 82 remotefrom its connection with the chain 86 is attached a chain 90, whichpasses over guide-pulleys 91 and 92 and extends thence downwardly, beingconnected at its lower extremity with the air-check or damper 78. Thisair-check or damper is also connected with a lever 93 of a diaphragm 94by a chain 95, which passes over a guide-pulley 95 The lever 93 isfulcrumed at 96 and connected at 97 with a stem 98, attached to thediaphragm from above. The lever 93 is provided with a wei ht 99. Thechain 86 is connected with theIever 93 by a short chain 100. Thepiston-stem 26 is provided with a pivoted dog 101, and the lever 28 isprovided with a notch 28 adapted to receive the said dog.

Assuming that the piston 25 of the cylinder 24 is in the position shownin the drawings, in order to start the furnace the weighted end of thelever 28 is moved in the direction of the arrow sufficiently to open thedamper 7 6 and close the damper 78. This movement of the lever 28 issuflicient to allow the dog 101 to be thrown into the notch 28, wherebythe lever and its connections are normally held in the position stated.When the parts are in these positions, the piston has not passed theport of the cylinder connected with the pipe 37. Then as steam isgenerated and forced into the radiators or other devices of the heatngsystem the air is driven out through the pipe 21 into the cylinder 24and acting on the piston 25 moves the latter forwardly sufficiently torelease the dog 101 from the lever 28, the spring 89 yieldingsuflioiently to permit this movement of the stem 26 after the damper 76is wide open. After the dog is released from the lever 28 the operationof the system is automatic. After the piston 25 passes the pipeextremity 37, moving in the forward direction, the air escapes by way ofthe waste-pipe 37. When the steam-pressure in the boiler becomes greaterthan is necessary, it acts 011 the diaphragm from below through a pipe102 and actuates the lever 93 sufliciently to close the damper 76 andopen the damper 7 8. The movement of these dampers will of course dependupon the movement of the lever 93, and the fire will be automaticallycontrolled to correspond with the pressure in the boiler. The operationof the piston 25 in response to the air-pressure from the pipe 21 and inresponse to the suction in said pipe produced by condensation in theradiators is exactly the same as heretofore described when referring tothe construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The rearward movement ofthe piston from its normal position shown in the drawings has exactlythe same effect on the dampers as the forward movement, one movementbeing produced by the air-pressure and the other by the suction in thepipe 21. In addition to the function of the spring 89, heretoforeexplained, this spring will enable the lever 93 when acted on by thesteam in the boiler to pull downwardly on the chains 95 and 86sufficiently to close the damper 76 and open the damper 78 when thesedampers would otherwise be held in the opposite position by thepiston-rod 26, acting through the lever 82 and its attachments. 1

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a Specifi construction for the valve 34. Itis evident, however, that while this valve is designated 34 on Fig. 5the construction of the valve 52 is the same. It is therefore notthought necessary to show the valve 52 in detail, since the last-namedvalve may be assumed to be of the same construction as the valve 34illustrated in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combinationwith a heating sys tem, of means connected with the air-outlet of thesystem for automatically controlling the supply of the heating agent, bythe force of the air driven out of the system by said agent.

2. The combination with a steam-heating system, of means connected withthe air-outlet of the system for automatically controlling the supply ofthe heating agent, by the suction produced in the system incident tosteam condensation.

3. The combination with a steam-heating system, of means connected withthe air-outlet of the system for automatically controlling the supply ofthe heating agent, by the action of the air driven out of the system bythe heating agent, and the suction incident to steam condensation in thesystem.

4. The combination with a heating system, of a cylinder in communicationwith the air-valves to allow the air driven out of the system, to enterthe cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, and means connected with thepiston and actuated thereby for controlling the supply of the heatingagent.

5. The combination with a heating system, of a cylinder in communicationwith the air-valves of the system to allow the air driven out of thesystem to enter the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, and a valvelocated in the system and connected with the cylinder-piston, wherebythe valve is actuated to regulate the supply of the heating agent.

6. The combination with a heating sys tem, of a cylinder incommunication with the air-valves of the system, a piston in thecylinder, a lever connected with the piston-stem, a valve forcontrolling the heating agent, and connected with the piston-stem, thelever normally holding the valve closed, the pistonstem, however, beingactuated by the movement of the piston as the latter is operated inresponse to the air-pressure or suction, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a heating system, of a cylinder in communicationwith the air-valves of the system, a piston in the cylinder, a valvelocated in the system for con trolling the heating agent, and connectedwith the piston-stem, whereby the valve is automatically actuated bysaid stem, and a valve located in a by-pass of the system.

8. The combination with a heating system, of means in communication withthe air-valves of the system for automatically controlling the supplyof'the heating agent to the system, by the normal action of the airdriven out of the system by the heating agent, and the suction incidentto condensation, and means interposed in the system for automaticallycontrolling the supply of the heating agent to the system.

9. The combination with a heating system, of means in communication withthe air-valves of the system for automatically controlling the supply ofthe heating agent to the system by the normal action of the air drivenout of the system by the heating agent and the suction incident tocondensation, and means interposed in the system for automaticallycontrolling the supply of the heating agent to the system by the forceof said agent in the system, said last-named means consistin of a valveand a weighted diaphragm, the atter being connected with the valve onone side and in communication with the heating agent on the oppositeside.

10. The combination with a radiator, of

FRANK O. GOFF.

Witnesses:

DENA NELsoN, A. J. OBRIEN.

